Monday, April 01, 2002
AL East Preview
Yankees (who else?) are team to beat
By Bob Matthews
Gannett News Service
1. YANKEES
Manager: Joe Torre
Last season: 95-65; beat Oakland 3-2 in the AL Division Series and Seattle 4-1 in the ALCS before losing the World Series to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Overview: The Yankees came within two outs of winning a fourth straight world championship and have retooled since. They're very much the team to beat.
Key additions: 1B Jason Giambi, 3B Robin Ventura, OF Rondell White, OF John Vander Wal, LHP David Wells, RHP Steve Karsay.
Major losses: 3B Scott Brosius. OF Paul O'Neill, 1B Tino Martinez, OF David Justice, OF Chuck Knoblauch.
Projected starting lineup: SS Derek Jeter, CF Bernie Williams, 1B Giambi, C Jorge Posada, 3B Ventura, RF Shane Spencer, DH Nick Johnson, LF Vander Wal/White, 2B Alfonso Soriano.
Strengths: Solid lineup with additions of Giambi, White and Johnson likely to boost last season's .334 team on-base percentage. ... offensive punch of Soriano, Jeter, Posada and Williams (all among the top two or three in the AL at their positions). ... veteran starting rotation featuring Roger Clemens, Mike Mussina, Andy Pettitte, Orlando Hernandez and Wells. ... solid bullpen with set-up men Ramiro Mendoza, Steve Karsay and Mike Stanton and closer Mariano Rivera. ... improved bench. ... team chemistry and confidence. ... Steinbrenner's money and will to win.
Weaknesses/question marks: How much do Wells and Hernandez have left? ... is starting pitcher Sterling Hitchcock as good as the Yankees think? ... can Ventura bounce back from a poor 2001? ... Giambi's defense. ... can injury-prone White play 120 games?
Don't be surprised if: Giambi and Jeter finish in the top three for league MVP honors.
Reasonable goal: Fourth world championship in the last five years.
Predicted finish: 101-61
2. RED SOX
Manager: Grady Little
Last season: 82-79
Overview: GM Dan Duquette and manager Joe Kerrigan were purged early in spring training but not before Duquette made a few winter roster moves that could pay off with a playoff berth. If you don't think team chemistry is important, compare the recent Red Sox to the Yankees.
Key additions: CF Johnny Damon, 1B Tony Clark, RHP John Burkett, RHP Dustin Hermanson, LHP Darren Oliver, INF Rey Sanchez, OF Rickey Henderson, INF Carlos Baerga.
Major losses: OF Carl Everett, RHP Hideo Nomo, OF Troy O'Leary, RHP David Cone, RHP Rod Beck, INF Chris Stynes, C Scott Hatteberg, 3B John Valentin.
Projected starting lineup: CF Damon, RF Trot Nixon, SS Nomar Garciaparra, LF Manny Ramirez/Henderson, 1B Clark, DH Brian Daubach/Henderson/Ramirez, C Jason Varitek, 3B Shea Hillenbrand, 2B Jose Offerman/Sanchez.
Strengths: Staff ace Pedro Martinez. ... power in the middle of the lineup with Garciaparra, Ramirez and Clark. ... return of Varitek. ... bullpen depth. ... Damon and healthy Garciaparra improve team speed.
Weaknesses/question marks: Rest of the starting rotation. ... bullpen might be overrated. ... could use more offense at 2B and 3B.
Don't be surprised if: The Red Sox are leading the division June 1. ... they score 100 more runs than last year (772). ... Clark has a 30 HR-110 RBI season.
Reasonable goal: Wild-card playoff berth (playing 38 games vs. AL East doormats Baltimore and Tampa Bay won't hurt).
Predicted finish: 88-74; wild-card playoff berth.
3. BLUE JAYS
Manager: Buck Martinez
Last season: 80-82
Overview: The Blue Jays had the highest operating losses in baseball last year and new GM J.P. Ricciardi's mission is to improve the team's performance with a younger and cheaper roster.
Key additions: 3B Eric Hinske, RHP Luke Prokopec.
Major losses: RHP Billy Koch, RHP Paul Quantrill, INF Alex Gonzalez, DH Brad Fullmer.
Projected starting lineup: DH Shannon Stewart, 2B Homer Bush, RF Raul Mondesi, 1B Carlos Delgado, CF Jose Cruz Jr., DH Vernon Wells, 3B Hinske, C Darrin Fletcher, SS Felipe Lopez.
Strengths: Delgado's power. ... outfield depth.
Weaknesses/question marks: Young infielders have potential but might struggle offensively this season. ... pitching staff has some good arms (Chris Carpenter, Roy Halladay and Kelvim Escobar) but is short on experience. ... player payroll cutting not a good sign.
Don't be surprised if: Mondesi or Stewart are traded during the season. ... Hinske is a Rookie of the Year candidate.
Reasonable goal: A .500 season while trimming payroll and developing young players.
Predicted finish: 77-85.
4. ORIOLES
Manager: Mike Hargrove
Last season: 63-98
Overview: There isn't much for Baltimore fans to look forward to this season, with four straight fourth-place finishes, a weak farm system, and Cal Ripken Jr. retired.
Key additions: OF Marty Cordova, OF Chris Singleton.
Major losses: Ripken, OF Brady Anderson, P Jose Mercedes.
Projected starting lineup: 2B Jerry Hairston, CF Chris Singleton, 1B David Segui, DH Jeff Conine, LF Marty Cordova, 3B Tony Batista, RF Jay Gibbons, C Brook Fordyce/Geronimo Gil, SS Mike Bordick.
Strengths: Some promising young pitchers. ... bats of Conine and Segui. ... Singleton and Cordova should upgrade outfield.
Weaknesses/question marks: Lack of power (Gibbons could help). ... does Hairston have the plate discipline to be leadoff hitter? ... can RHP Scott Erickson make a successful comeback? ... who will be the bullpen stopper?
Don't be surprised if: Conine is traded during the season. ... the Orioles battle Pittsburgh for the biggest attendance drop in the majors.
Reasonable goal: Avoid 100 losses and finish ahead of Tampa Bay.
Predicted finish: 65-97
5. DEVIL RAYS
Manager: Hal McRae
Last season: 62-100
Overview: The Devil Rays have baseball's youngest 40-man roster and it should continue to show on the field. There is some promising young talent but probably not enough to outfinish even the Orioles.
Key additions: OF Troy O'Leary.
Major losses: OF Jose Guillen.
Projected starting lineup: CF Jason Tyner, 2B Brent Abernathy, DH Greg Vaughn, RF Ben Grieve, 1B Steve Cox, C Toby Hall, CF Randy Winn, 3B Jared Sandberg/Huff, SS Chris Gomez.
Strengths: Some talented young players including Hall, Abernathy, Sandberg, Huff and Tyner. ... promising pitchers including Joe Kennedy, Nick Bierbrodt, Matt White and Dewon Brazelton.
Weaknesses/question marks: Lack of hitting. ... can veterans Vaughn and Grieve combine for more than last season's 35 HRs? ... can the speedy Tyner improve his .299 career on-base percentage? ... defense (AL-most 139 errors and allowed 106 unearned runs).
Don't be surprised if: Vaughn and/or Grieve are traded during the season.
Reasonable goal: Win 70 games for the first time in their five-year history.
Predicted finish: 62-100.
Reds Stories
Fans display their IU pride
Favored Terps ready for surprising Indiana
Huskies survive imperfect game, down Oklahoma
IU's Davis would listen to NBA
Turfway horses opt for Arkansas Derby
San Antonio can't stop Los Angeles' late charge
Amonte scores 350th goal in victory
Cyclones win, earn playoff berth
Hershey edges Ducks for 10th win in row
Coming up this week
Cats look to build on recent success
No. 1 Hamilton gets early test today
• Return to Reds front page...
AL East Preview
